Fulbright-Schuman Innovation Grants

The Innovation Grants are designed to support work that can create better transatlantic understanding of issues at the heart of the U.S.-EU relationship, particularly at the intersection of policy and technology.

The 2018-19 Innovation Award will give preference to proposals focused on EU or U.S.-EU approaches to innovative technologies and business models and their integration with new and existing policies and regulations.

The policy-oriented research funded by the grant should be of common importance for the U.S.-EU relationship and/or EU affairs and tenable in any one or two EU Member States. Candidates are responsible for arranging their own placement, including letters of invitation from any hosts.

Who can apply/who is eligible?
This grant is open to U.S. and EU citizens.

What is the application procedure?
The procedure is the same as for the general category. Please follow the instructions on the pages for either U.S. or EU citizens. For EU citizens, please start your application here: students (no PhD before February 1) – scholars (PhD or 5+ years of professional experience). Don’t forget to select “European Union” under Home Country, then select “Fulbright Visiting Fulbright Scholar” and type in “Innovation Grants” in Special Award name. U.S. Citizens can visit the CIES (scholars) or IIE (students) website to start their application.

What is the purpose of the new innovation award?
The Fulbright-Schuman Innovation Grants are an initiative by the U.S. government and the European Commission to support researchers and mid-career professionals from the United States and the EU who work at the intersection of technology and policy, allowing for a transatlantic approach to harnessing the potential of new technologies. The 2018-19 Innovation Award will give preference to proposals focused on EU or U.S.-EU approaches to innovative technologies and business models and their integration with new and existing policies and regulations.

Why has this award been implemented now?
The Fulbright-Schuman program, a unique exchange program sponsored by the United States and the European Commission, is celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2016-2017. The Fulbright-Schuman Innovation Grants are an opportunity to take the program to a new level, ensuring that the Fulbright-Schuman program reflects new challenges facing the transatlantic relationship.

How much money will the award provide?
3000 euros a month (or the USD equivalent) plus a one-time travel allowance of 2000 euros for scholars
2000 euros a month (or the USD equivalent) plus a one- time travel allowance of 2000 euros for students.

What are the eligibility criteria? Do they differ from your other awards in any way?
In addition to meeting the criteria and rigorous standards of a regular Fulbright-Schuman award, the Innovation Grants will go to proposals covering topics related to the intersection of technology and policy. The award also hopes to attract mid career professionals not just students and academics.

What career phase will the award be aimed at/Who can apply?
Students and scholars (anywhere from mid career professionals to post docs to full professors).

Will the award be open to all disciplines?
Yes, but the 2018-19 Innovation Award will give preference to proposals focused on EU or U.S.-EU approaches to innovative technologies and business models and their integration with new and existing policies and regulations.

How much innovation experience will you want applicants to have?
It is up to the applicant to demonstrate this to the selection committee.

Are any of the selection criteria particular priorities for you?
Proposals must be relevant to the U.S.-EU relationship, and in particular for the Innovation Grants, topic must explore an issue related to how U.S. and EU policy can address the challenges and opportunities presented by new technologies. As with all Fulbright grants, we also look not only for strong topics and academic credentials but also for the potential for applicants to serve as cultural ambassadors of Europe or the United States during their studies overseas.

Will you want the applicants to be the people who have developed the technology or initiative they will work on during their visit, or just people who can demonstrate expertise to work on something that might have been developed in the U.S., which they will work on for the first time during their visit?
Candidates do not need to have developed a new technology; the purpose of the grant is for candidates to explore the nexus of policy and technology. How can the U.S. and EU work together to adapt to the challenges and opportunities created by new technologies? There is no template for the ideal candidate; it is up to each applicant to demonstrate their expertise and the relevance of their work to this grant opportunity through their application.